98 HOODED MERGANSER. 



The note is represented by the syllables 'croo, croo,' repeatad 

 more or less frequently. Both birds utter it. 



The nest, placed in trees, or, when these are wanting, in 

 holes and hollows, in either case by the margins of lakes and 

 rivers, is formed of grass and other herbage, lined with feathers 

 and down from the breast of the mother bird. 



The eggs, eight or ten in number, and of a yellowish white 

 colour, are laid in May, and hatched in June. 



Male; length, one foot six or seven inches; bill, clear reddish 

 brown, the tooth black; iris, golden yellow. The head on the 

 crown is surmounted .by a half-circular hood, from whence the 

 name of the bird. It is spread out flat-wise or closed at 

 pleasure. According to Wilson, the crest is composed of two 

 separate rows of feathers, radiating from each side of the head, 

 and easily separable. This hood, as well as the remainder of 

 the head, is dusky black with purple and green reflections, with 

 the exception of a large somewhat triangular-shaped patch or 

 spot of pure white, bordered on the outside with black, behind 

 the eye. This is more conspicuous when the crest is spread 

 from about it. Neck, also dusky black, with metallic purple 

 and green reflections. Breast, white, with two crescent-shaped 

 streaks of greenish black, coming forwards on its upper part 

 from the like colour on the back; the sides and flanks yellowish 

 rust-colour, and finely pencilled with yellowish brown and 

 black; back, deep dusky blackish brown. 



Greater wing coverts, glossy greenish black, tipped with 

 white, the bases also white; lesser wing coverts, deep brownish 

 black. Primaries, deep brownish black. The secondaries deep 

 brownish black, and having the outside borders white, are 

 crossed with a bar of white, the bases also white; tertiaries, 

 metallic greenish black, the shaft streaks white. Tail, brownish 

 black. Legs and toes, clear reddish brown; webs, dusky. 



The female is rather less in size. Length, not quite one 

 foot and a half. The bill, which is slender, is clear reddish 

 brown. Head on the crown, reddish brown, the feathers 

 elongated at the occiput in a semicircular manner, verging 

 into pale reddish brown; the remainder and the neck and 

 nape, pale brown, the front of the neck paler, the edges of 

 the feathers being lighter coloured. Chin, greyish white, 

 speckled with pale brown; throat and breast above, brown, 

 deeply margined with grey; below, white, the sides brown with 

 paler edges to the feathers; back, brownish black. 



The wings, when closed, only reach to within three inches 



